Field Testing Biotechnology Where Climate Changes Will Impact Crop Productivity.

As changing climate conditions will differentially affect the production of food by geographical area, biotechnology traits are being evaluated as one component of a concerted effort by public and private sector partners to counter the existing and likely increasing abiotic stresses that limit crop yields.  Assessing the contribution of those traits will require testing in the targeted growing regions and ideally in the context of locally adapted crop germplasm combined with best agronomic practices.  Arcadia along with USAID is working 1) with the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) to test the use of genes affecting nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency, and salt tolerance in Nerica rice in West Africa; 2) with the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) to develop and assess the potential of ten different genes to enhance salt tolerance in indica rice in Bangladesh; and 3) with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and India to test biotechnology approaches to grain filling in wheat under heat stress as they might be incorporated into wheat varieties with enhanced tolerance to heat.  The status of these three development programs will be presented as well as some observations relating to public and private sector collaboration and the challenges of executing informative field tests in the targeted growing areas.